Amazonite is a vibrant green variety of potassium feldspar known for its distinct teal hue and characteristic cross-hatched twinning patterns. It is frequently collected in association with smoky quartz in granitic pegmatite pockets, making for highly aesthetic cabinet specimens.
Is this amazonite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch amazonite with a known reference. Amazonite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Amazonite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Amazonite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, blue-green, teal.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Amazonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Amazonite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 2-4).
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Amazonite and waxy on Turquoise.
How to tell apart: Amazonite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 3.5-4.5); luster reads vitreous on Amazonite and waxy on Variscite.
Often found alongside amazonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with amazonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KAlSi₃O₈
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 2.56-2.58 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect in Two Directions At Right Angles
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $5-50 for small specimens, $100-500+ for large crystals
Where rockhounds find amazonite
17 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Colorado, USA
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Madagascar
- Russia
- Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where amazonite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, albite, orthoclase in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find amazonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
